Canopy or tent



Aug. 2; 1927.

W. C. BAX.TER

CANOPY 0R TENT Filed Aug. 2, 1926 INVENTOR M/irm C Barkl- ATTORNEYS Patented Au. 2,1927.

UNiT'ED' TATES PATENT OFFICE. Z

WILLIAM C. :BAxTEaoE ROCHESTER, NEW yonnnss'renon To M. TEIMELE MEG. (30., Inc, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CANOPY on TENT.

Application filed. August 2, 1926. Serial No. 126,427.

The present invention relates to canopies or tents and an object thereof is to provide a construction which may be readily collapsed into a small compass. Another object of the invention is to provide a' con,- struction which is strong and durable in use and inexpensive to manufacture. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel connecting means between a' top rod and the upright which will support said parts in their'operative positions, but which will, at the same time, permit the top rod and the upright to be folded in parallel relation. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means of connecting a number of top rods atthe center of the canopy or tent. is to provide a novel means of connecting the covering to the connecting pieces between the uprights and the top rods.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter described: the novel features being pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings p Fig.1 is a perspective view of a canopy constructed in accordance with this invention;v 1 I Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the connection between an upright and a top rod and the manner in which the covering is secured in place; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the central connection with fragments of the four rods connected thereto; Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the central connection;

Fig. 5 is a detail viewshowing an up right and a top rod folded into parallel relation; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. a; and 1 Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7, Fig. 4. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, there is employed four uprights 1, made, in this instance, of metal rods and each connected to a top rod'2, the toprod being arranged in diverging relation and in turn being connected to a central connecting member to be described hereinafter more fully. The connection between each top upright Still another object of the invention 1 and the top rod 2, ,int'his instance, embodies a channel member 3 formed preferably from sheet metal bent into substantially U shape in cross section. An upright 1 is pivoted at 4: between the two sides of this channel member and to its sides in spaced relation tothe bottom 5 of the channel and also'in spaced relation to an end of the channel. A top rod 2 is pivoted at 6. also between and to the sides of the channel in spaced relation to the sides of the channel and to an end of the channel. With this arrangement the rods 1 and 2 will cooperate with the ends of the bottom portion 5 of the channeled connecting member as illustrated in Fig. 1, and so as to limit the move ment of said rods, in one direction, the rods, however, may be swung in the other directionas illustrated in Fig. 5, so that they may lie in substantially parallel relation.

The central connecting member, in this instance, embodies two sheet metal plates 7 held in abutting relation by rivets 8 except thatbetweenvthe two lower rivets8, where the plates are bent or curved outwardly slightly so that they do not abut at their central portions. The plates are also depressed in their opposed faces as at '9, each preferably at twopoints on its lower side so that in the member as a whole two sockets are provided which have elongated cross sections. Between these sockets a bolt 10 passes through those portions of the two members which are slightly spaced so that by tightening this bolt the two spaced portions may be drawn together'in order to clamp in each pocket two of the upwardly deflectel ends 11 on two top rods 2. In this way all four of the top rods are held in these two pockets, two in each pocket. This central member may also have its upper portion provided with an upwardly opening pocket formed 'by depressing the opposed faces at 12, this pocket being provided in order that a flagpole may be introduced therein.

The canopy or tent covering 13 is formed to fit over the top rods 2 and, in this instance, to depend only-ashortdistance below the upper ends of theupr'i'ghts' 1. On the inner face adjacent each top rod a loop 14 is fastened as at 15 and through this loop a ring 16 passes. These rings interlock with the connecting members .3 and to this end each connecting member is provided in each side of its channel member with a notch 17 forming ahoolr with which a ring 16 engages, thus holding the covering in a taut condition over the top rods.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a canopy or tent in which the top rods and uprights are pivoted between the sides of channel members at points spaced from the bottoms and ends of the channels, so that top red and the rupright abut the ends of the bottoms of the channel membersand hold the parts intheir properly related positions. This connection permits the folding of a top rod into parallel relation with an upright. The top rods are connected to a central member of novel connotched to provide hooks with which rings on the inner face of the covering may be engaged tohold a covering in place.

hat I claim as my invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: 1. Ina tent or canopy he combination of an upright, a top rod and a connector between said parts en'ibodying a channel mom-- berhaving. the rod and the upright pivotally mounted in the channel in spaced relation to the bottom and ends thereof and adapted to engage the bottom of the channel to one side of their pivots in order to define the angular relationfbetween the two members.

2. In a tent or canopy the combination of an upright, a top rod, a connector benti rom sheet metal in channel form and having the top rod and the upright pivoted within the chan' nel to the side walls thereof in spaced rela tion to the bottom of the channel and to the end thereohso that the toprod and upright may engage the bottom of the channel to one side 01' their pivots in order to define the angular relation between the two members.

3. In a tent or canopy the combination or an upright, a top'rod, a channelled connector to which the top rod and upright are secured having hooks on opposite sides of the channel with which suitable devices on the cover- :-ing may be secured.

4. a tent or canopy thecombination of an upright, a top rod, and a connectorbetween thetwo provided with a 11 0 having rings onthe underside thereof for engagement with said hooks.

7. A canopy or tent comprising top rods, uprights secured to the outer ends of'said top rods, upwardly extending projections at the inner endsof said top rods, and a central connecting member having twopockets of elongated crosssection, each ofsaid pockets receiving two of said projections.

8. A canopy or tent comprising uprights, top rods havingtheir outer ends secured to the uprights, upwardly extending projections on the inner ends of said toprods, and

a central connecting member formed with twoabutting plates, each provided with two. depressions on its abutting face forming two pockets of elongated cross section in each of which two projections of the top rods are fitted.

9. A canopy or tent comprising uprights,

uprights, projections at the inner endsof said top rods, and a ,central member formed of two abutting plates, each provided'wit-h two depressions on its abutting face forming two pockets of elongated cross section, the plates being spaced apart between the pockets, and a bolt passing throu hwbo-th plates between the pockets for drawing the same together in order to clamp the projec tions in the pockets, said plates each having at its upper endsa depression forming an ,upwardly opening pocket in whiqha fla jpole niay be received. '7 i 'i WILLIAM Hit) 

